Monthly Archives: June 2021

Sailing Capital of NC | And, by golly, we mean it

ORIENTAL – Organizers of this year’s July 10 & 11 Dragon’s Breath Regatta have set their sights on at least 20 entries across three classes of sailing. The event is open to everyone, and kicks off with registration Friday night, July 9. One of many highlights is a Saturday night dinner. Call Bob Slook at (732) 740-5591, or email ODC.race@gmail.com. New this year is modest prize money, compliments of the County Compass newspaper. …

You guessed it – flounder season shrinks

Editor’s note: For a more in-depth look at the flounder debate, see our feature story in the June 17 issue of County Compass, available online at www.compassnews360.com  MOREHEAD CITY –The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries has adjusted the recreational and commercial flounder seasons for 2021 to ensure a sustainable fishery. In 2019 the Division of Marine Fisheries recommended – and the Marine Fisheries Commission approved — substantial harvest reductions in the flounder fishery to rebuild the southern flounder stock. These season adjustments are necessary to meet that goal.…

Goodbye Old Friends! | Interstate 42 project to change James City forever

The right of ‘eminent domain’ allows government to acquire property for public use – but only if true market value is paid. Keith Cowell, owner of Cowell’s Cleaners, is still in negotiations with the State of North Carolina. “What we’ve been offered is ‘way under’ what we consider to be fair,” said Cowell. “We purchased the site in 1996 as an investment for our future.” Cowell said he will probably be forced to leave prior to any final resolution of remuneration. Even a nationwide chain of restaurants must give up when a $203 million Interstate project begins work. Many targeted businesses have…

Aurora Fossil Museum rockets to tourist hot spot

Cindy Crane, executive director of the Aurora Fossil Museum, gets credit for some superb vision, culminating Tuesday, June 15, with the christening of National Megalodon Day. The day was selected as a tribute to the our region’s popular destination, which first opened its doors on June 15, 1978. A monstrous shark, the Megalodon roamed the world s seas millions of years ago, and in doing so left behind plenty of teeth which have been uncov- ered deep in the earth as the nearby phosphate mine works its magic. These valuable artifacts are just some of the incredible relics on display at the m…

Recreational Anglers drastically over-fish Flounder Target for 2020

By Easton Edwards EASTERN NC – I listened in on the May quarterly business meeting of the Marine Fisheries Commission with a keen interest on the Southern Flounder catch numbers. I have previously stated (and basically bet my fellow fishermen) that they were going to see numbers they never dreamed were accurate! Little did I know what a surprise they would receive. The target catch allowance for the recreational fishery in 2020 was 152,808 pounds of Southern Flounder. However, the actual poundage landed was a whopping 456,636 pounds. This means that the recreational sector OVERFISHED thei…

Trump appearance at GOP Convention proves to be gargantuan fundraiser

GREENVILLE – You do the math. A thousand dinner tickets sold @ $500 each! Here, Frank Roe of Oriental stands in a long line Saturday morning, just after tickets went on sale at the Greenville Convention Center. Former President Donald Trump was the featured speaker later that night when party faithful packed the large banquet hall on the last day of the North Carolina Republican Convention.…

Certificate-of-Need barrier to reducing medical costs

By John Trump RALEIGH — A Durham County Superior Court judge has dismissed a New Bern eye surgeon’s lawsuit challenging the state’s certificate-of-need law. Judge Michael O’Foghludha heard roughly two hours of arguments Thursday, June 3, before agreeing with state lawyers’ motion to kill the suit. The ruling can be appealed. Dr. Jay Singleton argues that North Carolina’s CON law is unconstitutional when applied to him. Singleton has performed more than 30,000 eye surgeries. State law allows him to perform outpatient procedures like cataract surgeries at his New Bern-based Singleton V…

Here’s why many in the USA are suspicious of the ‘Shot’

By John Doe |Guest Commentary Editor’s note: Well known to this newspaper, the author is a prominent local citizen. We have suggested he use a pseudonym to minimize any risk of ‘cancel culture’ retribution. We will forward any questions that readers may have. Email inquiries to: info@compassnews360.com. AMERICA – Wow! The daily events keep coming at such a rapid pace that it is almost impossible to sift through opinionated news from what is factually correct. As it has been said many times: If you want answers, just follow the money! Who stands to gain from all the turmoil and disruptive issue…

Governor’s nominee to lead state agency fumbles confirmation hearing

Issue: Only one pipeline for natural gas Office of State Sen. Phil Berger RALEIGH – If Gov. Cooper doesn’t withdraw his nominee to lead the Department of Environmental Quality, the North Carolina Senate will vote to reject her – the first Cooper nominee to receive an unfavorable Senate confirmation vote. All fifteen of Cooper’s previous nominees have been confirmed. The nominee, Dionne Delli-Gatti, got into trouble at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Energy, and the Environment.  When asked, “Do you know what the Governor’s pos…

Everybody Else’s History . . .

The mysterious case of whose hand got caught in the wringer!

By Lisa Rice ALLIANCE – Welcome back to what we are calling Everybody Else’s History – referring, of course, to our huge Man Cave here at the farm where we have been entrusted with literally THOUSANDS of strange and unusual things from the past. These are not our items. Instead we are temporary caretakers! This week I want to talk about washing machines. And Mamas. As with any other invention, washing machines have changed (and improved) over the years. I seriously doubt if anybody actually remembers having to wash clothes in a local creek, with a rock and unheated water. I’m not even sure if anybo…

A new motel chain? | No! This is a chicken coop!

Editor’s note: We thank our friend Harry Mills, Economic Development Director of Granville County, for this report, which will be of interest to all the chicken-tending County Compass readers.  BUTNER – Carolina Coops, a custom chicken coop manufacturer, will create 147 new jobs over three years in Granville County. The company will invest $2.1 million to locate a production facility in Butner.  Originally founded in Durham in 2009, Carolina Coops is a family-owned producer of superior, walk-in chicken coops and related accessories. The company designs, manufactures, and distribut…
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